The IPL 2026 auction took a surprising turn on December 16, 2025, when the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) spent a jaw-dropping Rs 8.6 crore on Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis. Even though Inglis had already announced he would only be available for four matches because of his wedding, the intense bidding showcased the thrilling drama of the mega auction. This decision has ignited discussions among fans and analysts regarding value, strategy, and the changing nature of player commitments in T20 cricket.
Josh Inglis reveals shock at going unsold in IPL 2026 auction despite
After the auction, Inglis opened up about his thoughts in an interview with ABC Sport, which is Australia’s public broadcaster. Just before he had to focus on his duties with the Australian team for the Ashes series, the 30-year-old showed real surprise at how things unfolded.
“Well, I sort of watched a lot of it [IPL auction] and I was pushed back in the pecking order. I don’t have full availability this year. I’m getting married in early April. So, I didn’t really expect to go, to be honest. So I sort of saw my name go by unsold… the first one I was like, ‘alright stuff this, I’m going to bed’, and I need to switch on for tomorrow [Ashes] and then woke up to the news. I didn’t know until I’d seen a few messages this morning,” Inglis told ABC Sport journalist Bharat Sundaresan.
Josh Inglis is a Super Giant! 👌
The wicketkeeper-batter will represent @LucknowIPL for INR 8.6 Crore 💪#TATAIPL | #TATAIPLAuction pic.twitter.com/cq5s3rt6jE
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 16, 2025
Inglis’s wedding is set for early April 2026, which coincides with the middle of the IPL, meaning he’ll miss most of the 74-match tournament. His remarks highlight the conflict between personal priorities and professional obligations, a recurring theme in global cricket as players juggle family events with busy schedules.
Gautam Gambhir explains why Josh Inglis is perfect for LSG powerplay
It was no secret that Inglis had a partial commitment. Pre-auction insights from The Times of India revealed that he had informed the BCCI about his four-match availability, which lined up with Australia’s white-ball tours and his upcoming wedding.
The IPL, scheduled from March 26 to late May, would allow Inglis to be available only during the initial weeks possibly matches 1 through 4, depending on LSG’s fixtures.
LSG making a significant investment indicates their strategy under Sanjiv Goenka the owner who has been prioritizing powerful opening batsmen since the establishment of the franchise in 2022.
Inglis, known for his aggressive batter and wicketkeeper, offers the team more options as the batting line-up was struggling to find rhythm in IPL 2025, a season when LSG finished as the seventh team having only six wins from 14 games.
Team mentor Gautam Gambhir, speaking to IPL’s official website post-auction, hinted at the rationale, “We’re building a squad that punches above its weight in short bursts. Josh’s energy and form make him ideal for our powerplay plans.”
Gambhir mentioned on iplt20.com on December 17, 2025, that LSG sees Inglis as a key player who can make a big impact, rather than someone who will carry the team throughout the entire season.
AB de Villiers questions whether Josh Inglis justifies his record price for limited availability
The signing sparked strong reactions from cricket legends. South African great AB de Villiers, who used to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, called it the most confusing decision in IPL history during a video on his YouTube channel, “Mr 360,”.
“Josh Inglis, this is the craziest signing I have ever seen in my life. He is only going to be available for four matches. LSG sign him for 8.6 crores. I don’t know, is he really worth that much? Then you look at guys who were unsold like Jonny Bairstow, Devon Conway, all of them would be available for the entire season and possibly a better signing for LSG,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
De Villiers pointed out the opportunity cost, mentioning unsold players like England’s Jonny Bairstow (base price Rs 2 crore) and New Zealand’s Devon Conway (base price Rs 2 crore), who both remained unselected even though they were fully available.
